Dangbei MP1 Max projector delivers sharp 4K images for less

Triple laser 4K projectors are all the rage right now, and there’s a legitimate reason for that: Regardless of the price, in my experience, triple laser 4K images are very sharp.

Having used the Meanwhile, your wallet could certainly tell the difference, as the former costs about $1,000 more.

Mind you, the above comparison is a bit of apples to oranges when talking about the whole package, really, but the MP1 Max is actually just as sharp as the much more expensive projector. And technically it’s not even a true triple laser…it uses LEDs and Lasers for hybrid projection.

The Dangbei had a couple of issues that really stood out to me right away. It’s great that it works with Google TV. I love that I can log in and boom, everything is there. The downside is that Google TV can be a bit taxing on the processor, and the MP1 Max’s processor isn’t as snappy, so you’ll experience hiccups and lags when navigating menus, and even while watching shows and movies sometimes. It’s not so bad while you’re looking at something, but it’s very noticeable on menus.

The other problem was that the image would suddenly and randomly drop to the bottom right corner, much like a picture within a picture. A hard reset was required to stop it. When I contacted Dangbei about it, they investigated and informed me that it was a Google TV issue. Sure enough, a few days later, there was a Google TV update and I haven’t seen that problem since. However, there is still a bit of lag in the menus.

Another thing that’s not really a problem, but is a bit distracting, are the cooling fans. You can hear them quite well since the projector runs on the warm side.

Statistics at a glance:

• 4K UHD resolution
• Triple laser + LED light source
• 3,100 ISO lumens
• Projection size from 40 to 300 inches
• 1.2:1 launch ratio
• HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG
• MEMC Motion Smoothing
• Auto focus and auto keystone correction
• Screen adjustment and obstacle avoidance.
• Dual 12W Speakers
• Google TV
• 2 GB RAM / 32 GB storage
• Connectivity: 2 × HDMI 2.1 (1 × eARC), USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg)
• 190W power consumption
• 9.7 x 11.7 x 9.1 inches (246.7 x 296 x 230 mm)

Other than that, I think the MP1 Max is pretty solid.

Dangbei rates it at 3,100 ISO lumens, which puts it pretty much in the middle of projectors in this price range (MSRP is $1,999). Maybe even better than average when you count the fact that the MP1 Max typically retails in the $1,500 to $1,600 range. Dangbei recommends keeping the screen size between 80 and 150 inches for the best sharpness and brightness, but it’s good enough for close to a drive-in size at 25 feet (300 inches/7.62 m) diagonal if you’re feeling particularly frisky and have the space to project such a large image. The largest screen I tested was 196 inches (4.98 m) diagonal, outdoors and at night. 3100 ISO lumens is pretty good for that!

One thing I particularly like is its autokeystone and focus. I don’t have a dedicated projection room (yet), so I’m constantly changing them as I test various projectors. The MP1 Max doesn’t even have to be square to the wall to achieve a perfectly level, square and focused image. The moment you rotate or adjust the projector, the image will update in real time.

The built-in speakers are nothing to write home about.

On the other hand, I haven’t found any projectors that have impressed me with their sound. On paper, you’d almost think you’re getting close to THX quality with its dual speakers and 750cc acoustic chamber with bass-reflex design, supporting Dolby Audio and DTS:X up to 45Hz… but only at 12 watts per channel (two channels). But who limits themselves to using projection speakers? Are there real people leaving the dialogue and sound effects behind them?

If I’m streaming a football game on the side of the house or something, I’m paired with a large Bluetooth speaker located near the screen. At home, I run long HDMI cables to my receiver with a proper 5.1 setup. Right out of the MP1 Max, half of you will be listening to whatever you’re watching with what sounds like mid-bass, lofty mids, and highs just existing… and the other half will be the fans.

I plugged my old Xbox One Gen 1 into it (yes, it gave me the “Red Ring of Death” and it’s now on a custom SSD) and played. Strength 6 in it. Dangbei says it supports a 240Hz refresh rate for gaming mode, so I had to give it a try… but you’ll have to lower the resolution to 1080p to get those kind of numbers… which is fine, because my moldy old Xbox One doesn’t support anything higher than that anyway, it doesn’t even support 240Hz. It still looked good. Really good, in fact. And with a pair of headphones plugged into the 3.5mm jack on the back, it sounded great even while doing fast laps on the Nordschleife. I even played star field on the ceiling while I was lying on the couch.

For normal 4K viewing, you’re limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. That’s okay too, honestly. I saw a little vibration while looking Forgot – which is the nature of the beast when you’re trying to match 24 frames per second at a 60Hz refresh – but the MP1 Max is MEMC compatible, so you can always simulate a few frames to smooth it out. Personally, I’d rather deal with the vibration than have that soap opera feeling.

All of this, by the way, is at night and in a dark room. 3100 ISO lumens is pretty good. But the sun is considerably larger. This projector will not work well in a brightly lit room. bluish? Sure, those super bright colors will appear on your wall. aliens? It’s not a possibility. You’ll just have to listen to most of the movie instead of watching it, and you’ll have to be scared.

Would you buy it? I would absolutely buy one second hand. In fact, I just found one on OfferUp for $750. And a new one sold on eBay for $1,199… so there are deals to be had that make this projector worth it. But if I was really interested in setting up a home theater, I’d probably save a little more and buy something with more lumens.

And really, the MP1 Max is super portable, so I feel like it’s not designed specifically for custom setup and theater seating. It feels like something perfect for an impromptu movie night or an outdoor ball game. All you need is a power outlet, the remote control (which is backlit!), a Wi-Fi signal, some popcorn, and you’re done! If that’s the machine you’re looking for, then I’d say the MP1 Max is a good buy.

For what it’s worth, I went over experience rather than technical aspects like actual lumen output, gamma, DeltaE, HDR tone mapping, dB levels… if you want that level of technical detail, MondoProjos did a really in-depth technical spec on it.

Product page: Dangbei MP1 Max or Amazon

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